The Flame Trees of Thika (1981)

Biography · Drama

Elspeth and her unconventional parents decide to settle down in Kenya and begin a coffee plantation. This is a time of discovery for Elspeth, as she encounters the incredible beauty and cruelty of nature, and new friendships with both Africans and British expatriates. A side plot involves the beautiful and bored British Lettice Palmer who enters into an affair with a handsome safari guide. Eventually, however, the excitement of Elspeth's life is disrupted by the onset of WW I, and the changes it brings.

IMDb rating: 7.8 (502 votes)
Episode average: 7.0 -0.8 vs IMDb
Seasons: 1
Language: EN
Type: Mini-series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

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Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 1 season indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (1981)

6.96 avg 7 episodes 6.7 → 7.2 50 min avg

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Promised Land	6.7	30
2	Hyenas Will Eat Anything	7.0	25
3	Happy New Year	7.2	27
4	Friends in High Places	6.9	23
5	A Real Sportsman	6.8	25
6	Safari	6.9	25
7	The Drums of War	7.2	25